Author's Note: A lot of people have stopped reviewing. I'm beginning to worry. Hehe. Just let me know if you're still around, guys. I know a lot of people hate what's going on, but I hope you'll stick around for a while longer.

Movie Script Ending

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Other Son

The bell over the café door jingled quietly, a warning to Karen Roe that she had a visitor. Eyes still focused on the bill before her, she was hoping one of the waitresses would get the hint and take the order for her. It was only when she heard the customer clear his throat that she forced herself to look up. When she did, she felt a smile involuntarily grow over her aging features, and she ran around the counter to greet this certain customer with a hug.

Nathan's arms slid easily around her much shorter frame, and he hugged her close. "Hi Karen."

"Nathan," She spoke warmly, "what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to visit sooner, but uh, I had to come when I knew Haley wouldn't be working, and well.." He trailed off, but she finished his thought for him.

"Today's her birthday." She nodded, looking around for a moment, as if this were more proof that her partner was absent today.

"Exactly." Nathan stated uneasily. "Look, I know it must be weird for you. I mean, since we've split up. You've had to uh, choose sides, I guess."

"I haven't chosen a side, Nathan. I've known Haley almost her entire life, and she's like a daughter to me. But you are my son's brother, so you're like a son to me." Karen told him wistfully.

He nodded. "It's just, I figured because I hadn't come in as much lately, maybe you'd-"

"Nothing will change the way I feel about you, Nathan. You are my son." As she said the words, he felt like she was more his mother than even his own mother was. A warmth filled his heart that he could not explain.

Feeling slightly more confident, Nathan stood up straighter. "So, how about breakfast? On me?"

"On me." She corrected, gesturing towards the breakfast bar. Nathan took a seat, and she settled into the chair beside his, resting her chin on her hand.

"How are you?" They asked each other at the same time, and then both laughed. Nathan gestured towards her, signifying that she should go first.

"I'm good. Nothing really exciting has been happening the past couple of years. I've been.."

"Seeing Keith." Nathan nodded, as if this were no surprise.

"What." She questioned, but it was not said as a question. It was a mere statement.

"You've been seeing Keith. These past couple of years."

"Well, that, young man, is none of your business." She was smiling mischievously, and for a moment she looked slightly like Brooke. Albeit, a forty-year old version of Brooke.

"What's this young man stuff?" He teased. "I'm not even a full eighteen years younger than you."

"Eighteen years makes a difference. I'll tell you, kid." She emphasized the last word, and he smiled, happily defeated.

"Well, back on to the subject, I'm happy for you and Keith. I think it's about time it happened."

Karen nodded slowly, her eyes looking at anything but him. "Well, thank you. Not that I'm admitting to anything."

"No, of course not." He was grinning now, a boyish grin that reminded her quite strongly of her ex-boyfriend, a man she had spent years trying to forget. Nathan's features were sweeter though. His blue eyes were equally intense, yet softer. He was nothing like Dan, she realized.

"So," She pressed her hand to his in a maternal fashion. "How's life, Nate?"

He looked down. Well, for starters, I'm having sex with your son's wife, he thought bitterly. Instead he said, "Uh, it's okay. Not the best, I guess."

"Haley?"

"Not really," he shrugged. "Honestly, I think Haley and I were over a long time before we were. It was just hard letting go. This is more.. I mean, work's not so good. And there's some other stuff.."

"You can talk to me about anything, Nathan." She said seriously, and he wondered how his father could have ever left this woman.

"It's - I'd rather not talk about it right now." Even Karen Roe, who was pretty damn understanding, would not understand this.

"Okay. I can respect that," She allowed. "So tell me, how's Lucas?"

Since Lucas had begun growing closer to his father, she had seen less and less of him. As the years had gone by, she found that he was more with his father than with her. She had drifted apart from her own son.

When he'd been growing up, this had seemed like an impossibility. Now, she was lucky to receive his Christmas card. He called of course, on special occasions. Sometimes he would visit, but visits were extremely rare.

As time had gone by, she had actually found that she was closer to Nathan, rather than Lucas. It was sad, but there was no point in denying it. Since he'd gone to a community college in Tree Hill, and him and Haley had been married, he'd visited the café quite frequently, always eager to strike up conversation with Karen. He'd be there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Karen had found that Nathan was much more interesting than she'd ever given him credit for, and she'd seen him daily for years. Even after Haley and him had split, he'd still get more calls from him than her own son.

Nathan was her son. Maybe not by blood, but she truly felt a maternal bond to him. Maybe it was because he was Dan's son. Or Lucas' brother. Or Haley's husband. Or all of the above, or maybe something entirely unrelated.

Even so, she still missed Lucas. He was her baby, after all. Her little boy.

"He's good," Nathan nodded. "I just moved out of his place with Brooke about a month ago."

"I heard. I was going to bring you a house-warming gift, but we've been swamped. I'm sorry." She apologized, and he knew she meant it.

"It's okay." He laughed.

"Tell me," her eyes narrowed, "that you have furniture. No beanie bags, and a playstation."

"Please," He scoffed. "I have an X-box."

"Nathan.."

"And," he laughed, "furniture. Don't worry."

"How's your refrigerator?"

"Full!" He exclaimed, and his brother's mother laughed, throwing her head back. Her hair had grown back to its way when he'd first met her; shoulder-length, thick, and curly.

"Good. Tell me more about Lucas and Brooke." Karen demanded.

"Well," He scratched his head. "What do you want to know?"

"Are they happy?"

He did not like lying to Karen. He hated it. He wanted to get off this subject right now. "Sure. As happy as they usually are." He managed.

Karen didn't look convinced. "Are they trying to get pregnant again?"

"I don't think so."

"Are they sleeping in the same bed?"

"Karen!"

She shrugged. "What? It's a valid question. And it's not like he'll tell me."

"Yes, they sleep in the same bed." He sighed, defeated once more by the witty, older brunette.

It occurred to him then that him and Karen shared almost the exact same hair color. That Karen could be his mother, and Deb could be Lucas'. He wondered for a moment how different life would have turned out if things had gone that way.

"Brooke," Karen said the name softly. Almost painfully softly for him. "Brooke's okay, right?"

"She's fine."

"But is she really? Man, that woman has had a tough life. I just.. you know?"

"Brooke's.." He trailed off, wondering what exactly Brooke was. And what exactly she was to him. His lover, dare he say his girlfriend? Could you have boyfriends when you were married? Was it possible?

"Nathan."

"Huh?" He had dazed off, and Karen had clearly noticed.

"Brooke." She nodded, an eyebrow raised suspiciously.

"She's, she's more like herself than she has been in months."

Tears filled Karen's blue eyes, which he thought were quite an interesting shade. They truly reminded him of the Pacific ocean. They were a dark, ocean-y blue. He'd never quite seen eyes that color. "Oh good. I should really visit them sometime soon."

"You should," he agreed. "They'd like that." He looked down.

Karen lifted his chin. "I'll visit you, too. Maybe bring you a lava-lamp and a roast beef sandwich?"

He chuckled. "I would really enjoy that."

"We need to spend some more time together, kiddo." She nudged him.

"Yeah," He said, and then a bit louder, a bit surer, "yes. You know, you should come over for dinner. We can talk more. It'll be nice."

Karen smiled faintly, looking around her small, warm café for a moment before looking back over at him. "You know, you didn't fail Haley."

He bit his lip, failing to meet her gaze. "I'm not sure I believe that, but thanks."

"No, really. You were always there. It just - I guess it just wasn't meant to be."

He didn't want to cry. It seemed he'd been having to stop himself from doing that a lot recently. Which was weird. He didn't cry. Men weren't supposed to cry.

"Yeah," His voice cracked.

"Hey," Karen put her tiny hand on his chin, forcing his gaze to meet hers. "I am so proud of this. You've handled this so well. And you gave her the apartment and everything in it, and you didn't try to fight the divorce. You are such a wonderful man, Nathan."

"Thank you." He whispered, and Karen leaned forward to kiss his forehead softly.

"You are my son," she told him. "And I'm proud to say it."

"I don't.." He struggled for words. "I don't think you have anything to be proud of. With me. I'm not.."

"You are," She argued. "And don't doubt yourself, Nathan. You have a bright future ahead of you."

"I'll visit more." He promised suddenly.

"Ah," She stood, clearing a couple plates from beside him as the bell rang again, signifying another customer. "You better, mister."